Howards Grove School District
January Parent & Guardian Newsletter
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Howards Grove Parents & Guardians:
I am working hard to be visible and present and make sure people recognize my face as the new superintendent in Howards Grove.
For this month, I am including a short video update. Please take the time to watch my quick video message!
In addition, we are also looking for some feedback on a few topics. Please take a few minutes to provide us feedback using this survey link. The school board is also hosting 15-minutes of public comment on Monday, January 17th starting at 6:00 PM, if you'd like to share any feedback.
Sincerely,
Shannon L. Kilton
Superintendent
School Updates
Simply click on the school links below to read updates from each school
School Board Meetings
Our next school board meeting is a regular board meeting and is scheduled for this Monday, January 17th at 6:00 PM. Please note the time change for this meeting. The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the website on Friday, January 14th. All school board meetings and minutes can be found on the district home page in BoardDocs linked here.
We will be starting the meeting with a public comment section for 15-minutes, where community members can speak to the board.
In addition to the option to speak to the board, I am also looking for feedback on a variety of items as mentioned above. The survey link is also included HERE for your convenience.
Here is the current draft of agenda items for January 17th:
- Architect Presentation
- School Showcase from the music department
- COVID updates
- Policy approvals/discussions
- Open Enrollment Seats
- Administrator Contracts
- Facilities Planning & Potential Referendum Update
Feel free to join us in person or via zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96296511830?pwd=QVhxNWpmSUNYbnlWbXdNNWZKdjgyQT09
Teacher Recognition
The School District of Howards Grove is excited to participate in this opportunity with 27 other school districts to recognize outstanding school employees.
Thank you in advance for considering a nomination of one of our very own Howards Grove School District Employees.
Eastern Wisconsin Excellence in Education Awards Program
We are excited to announce that twenty-seven school districts are partnering with Channel 5 to recognize exceptional school employees in a program called the “Eastern Wisconsin Excellence in Education" awards. This program is similar to the “Golden Apple” and “Shining Stars” programs in Green Bay and the Fox Valley.
This program allows parents, students, community members, and staff to nominate deserving school employees in the following categories:
· Innovation in work (How has the employee demonstrated innovation in his/her work area?)
· Culture creator in the work environment (How has the employee gone above and beyond in creating a positive school culture?)
· Social/emotional well-being (How has the employee impacted the social/emotional well-being of students and/or the school environment?)
· Community involvement (How has the employee positively impacted the community?)
· Student connection (In what ways has the employee built positive relationships with students?)
Nominations need to be submitted by February 4, 2022. Following the submission deadline, a panel of judges will review each nomination to determine finalists. These finalists will then be asked to elaborate on the work outlined in the nomination. The judges will then select the award recipients in each of the five categories.
The awards show ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the Kiel Area School District Performing Arts Center. The program will be live streamed on Channel 5’s, WeAreGreenBay.com website.
The nomination form will also be available on the websites of all 27 school districts, as well as social media outlets and found within local newspapers.
We Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King’s actual birthday is January 15.
A few words of wisdom:
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let’s take an oath that the time to do right is always ripe and hence there is no need to wait for it anymore. Start today!
In case you missed it....COVID isolation/quarantine changes
Dear Howards Grove Parents & Guardians:
After well-informed discussions and careful consideration of the new guidance brought forth from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS), Howards Grove School District has made the decision to adopt the CDC’s newly updated COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines. This decision will be effective immediately.
Accumulating evidence demonstrates the majority of transmission occurs during the early periods of infection. The updated guidance shortens the duration of time an individual needs to stay in isolation (for asymptomatic and mildly ill individuals) and quarantine periods (for household close contacts):
Individuals Testing Positive For COVID-19:
Must remain isolated at home for at least 5 days- Onset of symptoms is day zero
- If asymptomatic, the day of testing is day zero
If symptoms persist longer than 5 days, an individual may be asked to extend their isolation period
Isolation period is then followed by 5 days of strict mask wearing.
- If masking is not possible or unwanted, the individual will be asked to isolate at home for the full 10 days, and school will provide virtual instruction
Before returning to school an individual must:
- Be fever-free for 24 hours without the help of any fever-reducing medication
- Experience at least 24 hours of significant symptom improvement
A negative test is not required to return to school
Household close contacts to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:
For individuals who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted:
- They are required to quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days
- The 5 day quarantine starts on the last exposure to the positive case while that person is in their contagious period
- Contagious period includes 2 days prior to symptom onset through the end of the positive case’s isolation period
- If masking is not possible while at school, the individual will be asked to quarantine at home for the full 10 days, and school will provide virtual instruction
- If symptomatic, an individual will be required to immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19 before returning to school
- If no symptoms occur, a negative test is not required to return to school
For individuals who are fully vaccinated (less than six months out from their second mRNA dose or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) or have received their booster dose:
- Do not need to quarantine following an exposure
- Recommended to mask during ongoing exposure and for 10 days after last exposure
- Best practice would include testing at day 5 after last exposure, but not required
- If symptomatic, an individual will be required to immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19
Please refer to the full Howards Grove Mitigation Response for a Safe Return, available on the school district’s website. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these guideline updates together.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
COVID Testing in the Howards Grove School District
Dear Parents & Guardians:
I am now able to offer In-school PCR COVID-19 testing available Wednesdays and Thursdays 3:00PM-5:00PM . Covid testing is available for asymptomatic individuals who have been exposed or had close contact to someone testing positive for Covid-19. Per the CDC, best practice includes testing after day 5 of exposure to a positive case. If an individual is actively symptomatic, we kindly ask that an appointment be made at a point-of-care testing facility set up to test symptomatic individuals. With the high transmission we are currently seeing in our schools, it is imperative to mitigate any additional transmission risk.
Testing area will be located at the Howards Grove High School. Testing individuals should meet at the High School office entrance and will be escorted to the testing room.
Test results will return in 24-48 hours after testing. Testing individuals will be notified of results via email, so please make sure the email used to register is correct.
Masking will be required at testing. Test is simple nasal swabbing.
Registration steps for parents:
- First, please follow the link https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov/en-us/ to register through "Covid Connect"
- At the end of the registration please select the "I'm being tested at a non-public site" option to finish your registration.
- Second, please email me at lpomeroy@hgsd.k12.wi.us to schedule a time and date to be tested. The Covid Connect does not allow you to make a specific time/date appointment
- Only a select number of appointments are available as first come, first served basis
- Unfortunately, walk-ins are not permitted
Lydia Pomeroy RN BSN
School Nurse
Howards Grove School District
REMINDER
FIRST, Reach out directly to your child's teacher/team/coach.
In the event your concerns are not addressed or you need further support, NEXT reach out to the building principal or activities director.
Jon Hess- High School Principal: jhess@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Angie Houston- Middle School Principal: ahouston@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Sarah Ellinger- Northview Principal: sellinger@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Tracy Mueller- Athletic/Activities Director & Special Education Director: tmueller@hgsd.k12.wi.us
FINALLY, if you still need additional support, please reach out directly to me, Shannon Kilton, Superintendent: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
In the event, we have all failed to help you navigate your questions & concerns, your last stop would be to reach out to the school board. Here is the actual board policy on navigating this process.
I am personally asking for this communication chain to help us all develop positive and trusting relationships, which are always grounded in open and honest conversations. Most often, concerns can be easily solved when we all talk directly to the person involved with the question or problem.
Thanks in advance for the support and understanding of this process.
Howards Grove School District
Superintendent of Schools
Email: skilton@hgsd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.hgsd.k12.wi.us
Location: 403 Audubon Road, Howards Grove, WI, USA
Phone: (920) 565-5462